Rugj file virus (Tutorial) - Decryption Steps Included

What is Rugj file virus?

Rugj ransomware virus can perform various changes on the machine to interfere with persistence and ensure the damage

The threat delivers a money-demanding message via text file

Rugj virus is focused on the cryptocurrency-extortion message that gets delivered to the screen immediately after the file locking procedures. Ransomware is a silent, but dangerous virus that aims to get money from victims, so it starts with locking your files once the system is infected. This is the process during which encryption algorithms get used, and the original filename is changed.^[1] Once encryption is complete, files receive the .rugj appendix, _readme.txt file gets delivered. All of those pictures/documents become locked, unopenable, but not fully damaged as you would think.

Then criminals claim to offer decryption tools that might recover affected parts after payment of $980 has been transferred in Bitcoins. This payment is a ransom needed for the release of those files. However, this is not the best way to get your files restored. Criminals do not always have those decryption tools available at all and only claim so to trick people into paying. Even contacting criminals via email addresses (manager@mailtemp.ch, supporthelp@airmail.cc)can be dangerous and lead to damage or additional malware infection. Do not hesitate and ignore the message.

The _readme.txt file, which is the ransom note for the Rugj ransomware virus, provides contact and payment information to its victims. The price of a decryption tool depends on how fast they will be contacted by cybercriminals behind this campaign. However, users can get their data damaged soon after the payment too. Even when the person took less than 72 hours following an attack to contact them.

The message from virus creators:

ATTENTION!

Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like pictures, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with
strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
hxxps://we.tl/t-pk3SGFlmek
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail “Spam” or “Junk” folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.

To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
manager@mailtemp.ch

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
supporthelp@airmail.cc

Your personal ID:

The particular Rugj ransomware variant is one of the more recent and alarming ones in a family known as Djvu ransomware. Criminals are claiming to have the decryption tool that is the only solution for your encoded files, so you should pay up. Experts^[2] recommend against this method because these threats aren't coming from trustworthy people – they use tricks that are deceptive, and there is little to no possibility that paying would help get those files back.

When it comes to security, the best defense is a strong anti-malware tool that runs on the machine from time to time. The first step in avoiding infections like the Rugj virus or other malware or any other type of ransomware is clearing your machine and removing all possible traces that might draw out these criminals.

We know how frightening an encounter like this would be, so stay away from interaction at all costs until you're done cleaning up after yourself. You can remove the threat with tools like anti-malware programs or system security tools. Try SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes and scan the machine thoroughly. When the application checks various places of the device, it can find malware and terminate those processes properly.

Anti-malware tools can be used to clear the infection properly

Partial decryption for .rugj files

It is important to copy the encrypted files onto a separate medium before removing them from your computer. You might wait for the decryption tool and later on restore those files that were not recoverable at the time. Encrypted data does not hold any malicious code, so you can move it without the worry of infection and transfer it somewhere safe, like a USB flash drive or SSD. The wait for such tool development might be long, but it is possible to receive news about Rugj decrypted in the future.

If your computer got infected with one of the Djvu variants, you should try using Emsisoft decryptor for Djvu/STOP. It is important to mention that this tool will not work for everyone – it only works if data is locked with an offline ID due to malware failing to communicate with its remote servers.

Even if your case meets this condition, somebody from the victims has to pay criminals, retrieve an offline key, and then share it with security researchers at Emsisoft. As a result, you might not be able to restore the encrypted files immediately. Thus, if the decryptor says your data was locked with an offline ID but cannot be recovered currently, you should try later. You also need to upload a set of files – one encrypted and a healthy one to the company's servers before you proceed.

• Download the app from the official Emsisoft website.
• After pressing Download button, a small pop-up at the bottom, titled decrypt_STOPDjvu.exe should show up – click it.
  
• If User Account Control (UAC) message shows up, press Yes.
• Agree to License Terms by pressing Yes.

• After Disclaimer shows up, press OK.
• The tool should automatically populate the affected folders, although you can also do it by pressing Add folder at the bottom.
  
• Press Decrypt.
  
  

From here, there are three available outcomes:

1. “Decrypted!” will be shown under files that were decrypted successfully – they are now usable again.
2. “Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID:” means that the keys for this version of the virus have not yet been retrieved, so you should try later.
3. “This ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible” – you are unable to decrypt files with this tool.

Issues that ransomware can cause on the machine besides file-locking

Rugj virus can be damaging to more than files commonly used on the machine. File encryption is the main process that the threat runs, so there is a reason for the money demands. However, more processes can be caused to trigger activities helpful for the infection procedure.

The initial virus infiltration can be related to trojans, malware, other threat like worms, and so on. Since those pieces can spread the malicious payload of the ransomware, the machine can get more affected by infections as well. Such malware can change startup preferences, disable the programs, system functions, and features. Malware needs to be running all the time and with each startup, so even the registry entries get either altered or even deleted/ added new.

Once a computer is infected with any malware like the Rugj virus, the system is changed to operate differently. For example, an infection can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup, and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc.

The file-encryption threat is considered dangerous due to the blackmail function

If the machine gets damaged by malware, antivirus software is not capable of doing anything about it, leaving it just the way it is. Consequently, users might experience performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstallation is required.

Therefore, we highly recommend using a one-of-a-kind, patented technology of FortectIntego repair. Not only can it fix virus damage after the infection, but it can also remove malware that has already broken into the system thanks to several engines used by the program. Besides, the application is also capable of fixing various Windows-related issues that are not caused by the direct Rugj ransomware infection, but create issues with other processes. For example, Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc.

• Download the application by clicking on the link above
• Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
  
• If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
• Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
• The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
• Once complete, check the results – they will be listed in the Summary
• You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
• If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.

By employing a system program like this, you would not have to worry about future computer issues, as most of them could be fixed quickly by performing a full system scan at any time. Most importantly, you could avoid the tedious process of Windows reinstallation in case things go very wrong due to one reason or another.

Options available for the file recovery

The particular versions released after the improvements in the coding and encryption processes cannot be easily decryptable, so file recovery after infections like that can be limited. Since the Rugj virus relies on the online ID forming method, the unique key is needed for the full decryption process. But your habits of having file copies or backups can help here.

Since the decryption is more likely not going to happen anytime soon because tools like that take a long time to develop, when the infection manages to alter the system, there are a few options left only. Waiting for the decryption tool – not the best of them. Paying- never recommended.

If you value your files, you should have backups and copies of those commonly used and needed files that are updated frequently. So when the Rugj file virus gets removed from the machine, you can properly replace the affected pieces with safe copies from the cloud.

Since many users do not prepare proper data backups prior to being attacked by ransomware, they might often lose access to their files permanently. Paying criminals is also very risky, as they might not fulfill the promises and never send back the required decryption tool.

While this might sound terrible, not all is lost – data recovery software might be able to help you in some situations (it highly depends on the encryption algorithm used, whether the Rugj ransomware managed to complete the programmed tasks, etc.). Since there are thousands of different ransomware strains, it is immediately impossible to tell whether third-party software will work for you.

Therefore, we suggest trying regardless of which ransomware attacked your computer. Before you begin, several pointers are important while dealing with this situation:

• Since the encrypted data on your computer might permanently be damaged by security or data recovery software, you should first make backups of it – use a USB flash drive or another storage.
• Only attempt to recover your files using this method after you perform a scan with anti-malware software.

Install data recovery software

1. Download Data Recovery Pro.
2. Double-click the installer to launch it.
3. Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
4. As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
5. Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.
6. Press Next.
7. At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
8. Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
9. You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
10. Press Recover to retrieve your files.

There are many changes and particular pieces that the Rugj virus can damage. Your anti-malware tools and security programs can be disabled or corrupted by the infection. You can enter the Safe Mode with Networking to properly access the machine and be able to run SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes. The guide below shows you how to enter this mode on the computer.

It is possible that other changes on the machine and damage to activities, added processes, background files alter the overall performance and trigger failure of data recovery. Double-check with apps like FortectIntego before moving to any file repair processes. This way, you can ensure that the machine is virus-free and that recovered files cannot get damaged again.